I'm a girl, and with that comes the often sidelined topic of periods.
Yep, you know the things. That time every month when you feel like your insides
are falling out (well, they kinda are...) and you just need to eat everything in sight and shout
at everyone you see for no reason whatsoever.
Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.
My nephew is almost 2, and almost potty trained. But for those two years,
he has been cloth diapered. For those of you who aren't familiar, basically it means he wears reusable nappies, which is great for the environment, better for his skin (never once has he ever had nappy rash!), not to mention they cost far less in the long run than disposables. I'll save the fluff bum post for another time, for those of you who are interested!
Whilst browsing a cloth nappy website, TJ's cloth nappies, I came across 'Mummy Fluff'.
Confused, I had a look. My first thought was 'what adorable fabrics!!!'.
I realised that they were reusable sanitary pads, something that was completely new to new.
Now, the thought of using them, washing them and reusing them wasn't enticing to begin with. But I decided to have a bit of a research into them and see what the deal was.
On average, a woman will use up to 16,800
disposable pads and tampons during her lifetime.
I mean, that's crazy right! When they cost around £4 for a pack of 10, you're looking
at a lot of money. But it's not just about cost.
<3
Treehugger summed it up on their blog post.
1. You'll get less cramps, infections and skin rashes.
I for one get awful cramps. Since using the mummy fluff, I had literally had ZERO cramps, and those I have had have been totally forgotten.
As they explain, disposable pads use plastics, which block airflow, making you sweaty and uncomfortable. They also include synthetic fibres lke rayon, which although are absorbent, they absorb natural moisture too, which can lead to infections and rashes.
2. Its much healthier!
Disposables contain plastics, cotton, synthetic fibres, and wood pulp....lovely!
Cotton is a toxic crop, using 20% of the worlds pesticides and herbicides.
The materials are then bleached, which is absorbed by us and then thrown into landfills emitting nasty byproducts for decades.
Due to the materials and fragrances, they've also been linked to allergic reactions and gynecological conditions such as endometriosis.
3. Money.
Reusables might cost more per item,
but you'll need considerably less of them.
4. Think green!
Nearly 20 billion pads and tampons are discarded each year in North America alone.
The plastics in pads take HUNDREDS of years to decompose.
<3
It's an odd concept. But one that you should have a think about!
I was worried that they would leak, but they don't.
They're also not bulky, which I worried about, and they're mega comfortable.
In fact they're so comfy, I didn't much want to take it out >.<
So how does it work?
You just popper them in, and hey presto.
I also bought a small wet-bag, like the kind you'd use for cloth nappies but smaller.
Only you know how quickly you go through them, but when they need changing, you just remove and replace, and pop it in the wetbag. Wetbags are designed to hold weight and smell, so no embarrassing moments! Using them at work was worrying, but I just stuck to specific times and took my handbag in with me so my wetbag was handy.
I soaked them in cold water and tea tree when I got home, then
after about 30 minutes I chucked them in the washing machine with the
days washing, no higher than 40 degrees celcius. I would say order enough for two days at a time, or more if you prefer to do your washing less frequently.
Keep an open mind, and remember that its not something to be embarrassed about!
I love my TJ's mummy fluffs, they're made to the highest standard, and the patterns are adorable <3
